Montana Legislative Update - Week of April 26, 2025

Weekly Legislative Activity Report - 7 days left in session

There were only Two (2) insurance related bills up for hearings or readings this week-HB345.2,  and SB394.X. 

HB345.2. Did not pass. This was a procedural bill providing for changes in Evidentiary Standards for Workers Compensation cases.

SB394.x. This bill passed and is being enrolled.  This bill provides for Workers Compensation coverage for First Responders for PTSD. Currently coverage for PTSD is not offered by Workers Compensation coverage in Montana.  There is some real concern that this bill might ultimately lead to an extension of Workers Compensation for PTSD to other industries.  “Coverage Creep” could have a serious financial impact on carriers if the bill gets amended in the future! The estimated initial fiscal impact on MSF is about $1,000,000.

With just 7 days left in the legislative session, there is a push to finalize key legislation.  SB90 and HB892 are stillin limbo, both bills are aimed at reducing residential property tax.  Neither bill has been passed yet and are not scheduled for hearings next week.  There may be an effort to pass them at the last minute.

We will continue to monitor and review legislation as it is being considered.

Active Bills being Tracked:

SB290   Status-Missed General Transmittal Date

  A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING LAWS PERTAINING TO UNINSURED MOTOR5 VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE TO ADD UNDERINSURED MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIRING THE INSURED TO ACCEPT OR REJECT UNDERINSURED MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY

SB308  Status- In committee for third reading

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REMOVING THE LIMITATION ON WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO NOT EXCEED THE STATE'S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE; LIMITING WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO NOT MORE THAN $2,885 A WEEK; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 39-7

SB346: Status-Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS;  REVISING LAWS RELATING TO WHEN BENEFITS MAY BE ORDERED AND PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; PROVIDING THAT PAYMENT OF BENEFITS IS NOT REQUIRED WHEN THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCEPTANCE OF LIABILITY; REVISING LAWS RELATING TO COMPLIANCE WITH MEDICAL  TREATMENT; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 39-71-610, 39-71-615, AND 39-71-1106, MCA.”

SB345 : Status-Not Passed

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS RELATING TO MEDICAL PROVIDERS; PROVIDING FOR AN EVIDENTIARY STANDARDS FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS; ALLOWING FOR CERTAIN INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS BY THE INSURER;AMENDING SECTION 39-71-605, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.”

HB805 :  Status-Tabled in Committee

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS; REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS RELATING TO CLAIMS; PROHIBITING ALIENS THAT ARE UNLAWFULLY EMPLOYED FROM BEING ELIGIBLE FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION; PROVIDING THAT AN INSURER SHALL CLOSE A CLAIM IN WHICH THE CLAIMANT FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS HAS LEFT THE UNITED STATES OR CERTAIN TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE A CLAIM IS BEING MADE OR ONGOING; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 39-71-118 AND 39-71-4

SB356-Hearing in House

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING INSURANCE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES RELATING 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 TO THE DESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC AUTOMOBILE BODY REPAIR BUSINESSES; PROHIBITING AN INSURER FROM DISREGARDING OR REQUESTING AN AUTOMOBILE BODY REPAIR BUSINESS TO DISREGARD CERTAIN INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER; AMENDING SECTION 33-18-224, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.”

HB533  Passed Third Reading in the House-Bill is now headed for enrollment

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REQUIRING INSURERS THAT USE A WILDFIRE RISK SCORE 5 TO PROVIDE THE REQUESTER WITH CERTAIN INFORMATION TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY; 6 PROVIDING TIMELINES FOR THE INSURER TO RESPOND; AND PROVIDING DEFINITIONS.”

 HB394  The bill is heading for enrolling

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESSDISORDER FOR FIRST RESPONDERS; PROVIDING A DEFINITION; AMENDING SECTIONS 39-71-105, 39-71-116, AND 39-71-119, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.” this bill passed and is heading for enrolling.

Lobbying services provided by D.L. Williams